Course 2023-2024: First Official Run

The first official run of the "Natura 2000 Manager" course took place from November 2023 to June 2024, with 46 participants from across Germany. It concluded in June 2024 with a final examination. Online presentations on the learning platform facilitated flexible self-study, while in-person excursions and seminars provided opportunities for networking and cross-state collaboration. Participants rated the course highly in the evaluation, achieving an average score (school grade) of 1.5.

Events held as part of the course

• Three excursion days
• Three seminar days
• Seven online events: lectures, discussion sessions and consultations

Evaluation

The official course was accompanied by an evaluation conducted by "js_studien+analysen," similar to the one used during the test run. This evaluation consisted of a questionnaire administered at the beginning and end of the course, gathering participants' feedback on their satisfaction with the course content, structure, lecturer, and overall benefits. The results were overwhelmingly positive, with participants rating the course an average of 1.5. 

Access the detailed evaluation here (German)

Opening Event

The first official course began on November 10, 2023, with an opening event that welcomed participants for the 2023-2024 session and introduced them to the course. During this event, State Secretary for the Environment Dr. Burkhard Vogel presented certificates to participants from the test run. A panel discussion included Dr. Vogel, Prof. Dr. Fiona Schönfeld from the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, test run participant Frank Berhorn, and project coordinator and co-initiator Prof. Dr. Stefan Brunzel. They discussed the importance of the course nationwide considering the skilled labor shortage and its future after the project ends. This was followed by a two-day seminar for participants of the 2023-2024 course.

Opening Event

In-Person Events

A total of six in-person events took place in Erfurt and its surrounding areas. The seminars "Arguing in Nature Conservation" (November 10 and 11, 2024) and "Press and Public Relations in Nature Conservation" (January 28, 2024) were conducted. Additionally, three excursions were organized to explore habitat types in open land and forest, with a focus on identifying different habitats and discussing management measures. The excursions took place in Mariental, Eisenach (January 27, 2024), the area around Drei Gleichen (April 25, 2024), and Hainich National Park (April 26, 2024). These events encouraged professional exchange, provided valuable insights, and facilitated networking among participants from different federal states.

In-Person Events